The Wednesday Night Paddler - RESCUE PRACTICE

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The Wednesday Night Paddler
RESCUE PRACTICE

The actual attendance limit for this paddle is 30 paddlers. 6 spots have been set aside for people who will be renting kayaks. If you are a renter on the waiting list I will move you to the attending list. Those spots not filled by renters 24 hours before the paddle will be filled with members on the waiting list who have paid the voluntary dues. Everyone has the same chance to sign up for the first 24 slots.

Just so everyone is clear, this is all about rescues and there will be no regular paddling. We will not have our usual social half hour off the water either. You'll pay $50 to $100 per class for a chance to fall out of your boat elsewhere. This one is totally free if you have your own boat and only $25.00 if you don't.

One of the greatest things to happen at a paddle last summer was when a couple of our members were able to handle a rescue situation entirely on their own while on one of our weekend paddles thanks to the fact they attended one of these sessions.

Everyone who paddles a kayak needs to know how to get back in it on their own when they fall out too far from shore. The rescue practice sessions are designed to help you learn to do that.

Don't worry, no one who comes will have to do anything other than watch various types of self and assisted rescues. Although just watching sort of defeats the purpose of the night, even watching will have you better prepared WHEN not IF you need to use these techniques. If you paddle a kayak, you are going to fall in. Even the best of us do from time to time. Absolutely nothing makes me laugh harder than hearing that you just don't fall in or haven't in a long time. Are you ready for it when it happens to you? Bring a paddle float and bilge pump if you have them but we'll have extras if you don't. Bring a spray skirt if you have one.

We did the last one of these at Daniels Dam on the Patapsco and it actually turned out pretty well at that location so we'll be at Daniels again. The group is too big for much one one one instruction so we will start off with a couple demonstrations and then break off into groups of two or three to try the rescues. The last couple of times everyone was too busy practicing to bother stopping to socialize so we will suspend the social hour for this session.

Rescues are something that all kayakers need to practice a few times a season whether you've done them before or not. They need to be something you do instinctively without thinking. IF YOU ARE NOT PRACTICING YOUR RESCUES A FEW TIMES A SEASON YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT BE PADDLING A KAYAK.

There are rental boats available for this paddle at a price of $25.00 for the evening delivered to the put in with paddle and PFD. You can request a rental during the RSVP process.